While often taken for granted, vocal communication is a defining characteristic of humans; from a hushed whisper, to a shout of jubilation, or a grunt of disapproval, it conveys both information and emotion. The production of human speech arises from complex fluid-structure-acoustic interactions that occur within the vocal tract. This two-part course provides insight into the physics of voiced speech production, investigating the role of fluid mechanics and acoustics in the successful production of speech. A lay description of the science will be used, with examples from everyday life to demonstrate key principles.

When his teenage dream of being a professional bicycle racer failed to materialize (due to an embarrassing lack of talent!), Byron Erath rethought his career goals and decided to pursue an education in fluid mechanics, motivated by his observation of how aerodynamics can have such a significant influence on something as simple as riding a bicycle. He joined the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at Clarkson University in 2012, where he performs research in the field of fluid mechanics, with an emphasis on voiced speech production.